Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-08-04
CATERERS TO CATS.
One OF tho Ways OF Getting n Living
This Great World.

There are in London ut least 5000
men and women who earn very com,
fortablet liFings as. caterers 10 cats
This trade, while it extends somewhat
into the West End, does not flourish in
the wealthy neighborhoods. where the
cats are often fed with dainty scraps
from the table. In the East End, with
its 100000 of human beings closely
packed in single rooms in narrow
streets. there are no spare scraps from
the table. ave are obliged to eat
close" said Bethnal green woman to
me. "Our cats get no dainties. The
old man or the young 'uns get the las.
dainties and oftentimes the last
bones" A vast majority, therefore.
of the half million or more of London
cats have to live on boiled horsefesh,
and the "cats'-meat man" of whom
am about to speak is the purveyor Of
this meat for the poor, middle and
lower-class cats of the metropolis.
An able-bodicd cat can live comfort
ably on half a pound of cats meat per
day. The cost of this meat at q CATS
meat shop is a penny per pound. II
the entire army Of cats were supplied
with full half pound of meat it would
take abont S3S horses per day to keep
them supplied, as the average product
of meat of dead horse, am told, is
about 800 pounds. A considerably
smaller number of defunct horses than
this is made to go round. owing to tho
skill of the cats'-meat man.
"The greatest hart is in the cutting
up" said an experienced cats'-meat
artist to me last Friday night.
"You tell me- said |. "that you
have a route embracing 600 customers,
and that you use one hundred weight
Q12 pounds) of meat day. Now how
do you cut up a hundred weight into
GOO half poundsp"
"Well, you see nice dry piece of
meat is better than hunderdonc; it looks
more on the skewcr. Between two bits
o. nice and dry we clasp little bit o.
rough, and 'olds it up on the skewcr,
and the customers say, That is some
thing like rosy 'aporth, Mr.. Cats
Meat-Man.' The hart Is, sir, to make
five ounces look rs much like 'alf o
pound rs possible. Some men adulter-
ates ther meat. but l don't do that un
less meat is very scarce"
"Adulterate the meat" remarked
with surprise. "what meat is cheaper
than horse-ncshp"
"Why, lights is cheaper; bullocks'
lights. We buy 'cm seven pounds for
threepence (six cents) all 'ot and fresh.
But the trouble with the lights is the
cats don't like 'em. We as understand
tho ropes do our best to cultivate their
taste by throwing n bit down to sec if
they will eat it, but cats are getting
that dainty as 'alf Of 'em won't. II a
cat don't eat it, of course We can't put
none in the meat. We ave to be very
hartful or else we should never get on" I"
The man who thus addressed me was
seated on bench in little back work
shop in court not far from Shoreditch
Church. He is said to be one of the
most popular purveyor of cats meat in
London, and Is known among his class
as "Wag." He is a good-natured fel-
low and something of n wit in his way.
On his head he wore saucy billy
cock, and around his throat in place Of
the customary neckerchief was collar
and scarf, ornamentcd with large
silver pin in imitation of stirrup.
His waistcoat was long, with double
row of buttons. His manner was that
of tho regular cockney type, with u
dash of the artful dodger. When !
entered Wag was busily engaged in
making skewers for the next days
trade. Offering him a cigar, which ho
examined carefully in order to be sure
and light the right end, the conversa-
ton was continued.
"Is the cats'-meat business n profta-
BILE one?" "Middling, so l think. 1t
all depends, you see, on what kind Of
walk you ave. The 'orsc slaughtcrers
or knackers, as we call 'em, have all
gone into one large company, and that
has done away with competition, ex-
cepting with country and foreign
meat"
"Then foreign meat comes into Lon
donp"
"Oh, yes. 1t comes all the way
from the north of England, Scotland
and even 'Ambrg in Germany. But
the foreign and country meat don't
suit the happetito Of the London cats.
What they like best is fine old London
trammers or drayers. 'Ansom cab
'orses are not to bc despisod, though
the worn-out and broken-down 'growl-
cr' is little relished by the class Of cats
rs serve"
"How much can you make o weckp"
"Well, that again depends on tho
walk. There are two 'undred, one
'undrod, 'alf hundred and quarter
'undred walks. A good 'undred-
pound walk ought to be worth four
pounds week. ave about six
'undred cats on my walk, and generally
make hundred weight go round. The
meat costs me from eight shillings
($2) to twelve shillings (sS) per 'undred
weight, and | make out Of It by hexer-
cising the Legitimate part Of the trade
six 'undred 'andsome lookin' aporthsl'
London Cor. Troy en- ~ Times.
Little Allie had just completed the